Category: Obedience

In Nehemiah 8, the remnant of Israel showed a respect for God and His Word, as Ezra the scribe read the law in their hearing. Such respect led to their obedience, and standing before God. Such serves as a wonderful example to us today.

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This Sermon is an examination of Jesus’ commission to His disciples in Matthew 28:18-20 where He said, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

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Men show themselves to be fools when the deny God’s existence, disobey His commands, prate, meddle and show carelessness in their lives.

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Below is the material used in our recently completed Vacation Bible School.  Any who would like to use this material for their own school or studies are more than welcome.  The materials were created by members of the West Side congregation.  (Please note the acknowledgments at the end of this post).
This class consists of five lessons taught at West Side from June 23-27, 2008.  Stan Cox taught the adult class of the 2008 Vacation Bible School.

The VBS followed the theme:  “Growing in Grace.”

Right click on each item to save it to your hard drive. Resources in this course of study include Powerpoint presentations and Audio files in the mp3 format of the adult class, and classbooks used in the childrens’ classes.
Lesson 1 – Growing in Grace Through Jesus

* A Loving Relationship With God
* Cultivating a Relationship With God
* Relationship Myths
* How the Relationship is “Entered”
* Conclusion: Press On!

Lesson 1 – Growing in Grace Through Jesus (PPT)

Lesson 1 – Audio (mp3)

Lesson 2 – Growing in Grace Through The Knowledge of God’s Word

* What We Get from God’s Word
* Facts About the Bible
* Get A Plan (Just Do It!)
* Our Desire to Know God and His Word
* Conclusion: Live the Word!

Lesson 2 – Growing in Grace Through a Knowledge of God’s Word (PPT)

Lesson 2 – Audio (mp3)

Lesson 3 – Growing in Grace Through Spiritual Disciplines

* Prayer
* A Formula for Prayer – A.C.T.S.
* Keep a Journal
* Memorize Scripture
* What Is Your Focus?
* Conclusion: Discipline Yourself!

Lesson 3 – Growing in Grace Through Spiritual Disciplines (PPT)

Lesson 3 – Audio (mp3)

Lesson 4 – Growing in Grace Through Obedience

* Examples of Authority
* The Authority of Christ
* Obedience
* Conclusion: Obey God!

Lesson 4 – Growing in Grace Through Obedience (PPT)

Lesson 4 – Audio (mp3)

Lesson 5 – Growing in Grace Through Spiritual Maturity

* The Example of Jesus
* Growing as a Christian
* Exemplify Christ in…
* Conclusion: Live a Life of Sobriety and Purity!

Lesson 5 – Growing in Grace Through Spiritual Maturity (PPT)

Lesson 5 – Audio (mp3)

Note:  In addition to the Powerpoint and Audio of the Adult class, other materials were prepared for the VBS.  Primary among these was a curriculum written by one of the members of the West Side congregation, Tracy Gallman.  Sister Gallman did a wonderful job with the lessons, and they were published in booklet form using the Microsoft Publisher program.  The adult class powerpoints were developed using this curriculum as the base.  Links to the booklet, as used by students from 3 grade through high school, another version for 1-2 graders, and other materials are listed below.  Feel free to use, and feel free to modify the materials to personalize for your congregation if you desire to utilize the material.  However, please do not alter the content, and please give proper credit to sister Gallman for the material, and sister Jade Calvert for the art work.

* VBS Student Book (Grades 3 through 12) (Microsoft Publisher)
* VBS Student Book (Grades 1 through 2) (Microsoft Publisher)
* VBS Circular (Advertisement) (Microsoft Publisher)
* VBS Bookmarks (Microsoft Publisher)

3 John 1-4

Some of the greetings in the epistles of the New Testament are wonderful expressions of praise to the faithful. This is a grand example of such a commendation.

Gaius was an exceptional Christian. John’s words were not false flattery. These are inspired words, and Gaius here received praise from the Holy Spirit.

What was Gaius commended for? He walked in truth! Where many today put little emphasis on the truth of God, Gaius was notable because of his allegiance to it. As John said, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth” (vs. 4).

Here is the key. Gaius not only familiarized himself with God’s truth, but he walked in it. He was obedient to it. He lived his life by it. “But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does” (James 1:25).

Much of the religious world claims a “personal relationship with God.” They then attempt to self-define that relationship, rather than realizing such a relationship is dependent upon God recognizing their standing before Him. This sermon details what is necessary to have such an intimacy with the Almighty.

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Jeroboam convinced the Northern Tribes that it was too much to ask them to return to Jerusalem to worship God. Instead he fashioned golden idols, and introduced idolatry to the nation of Israel. (cf. 1 Kings 12). It is often claimed that God requires too much of us. Is it true? This sermon establishes that what God requires is reasonable and doable for the Christian.

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Chess master Bobby Fischer, one of the greatest chess players in history, has died, a spokesman for the World Chess Federation confirmed to CNN Friday. He was 64.

No cause of death was given.

Fischer became the first American world chess champion when he defeated Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union in a legendary encounter during the Cold War in 1972.

Former Russian chess champion Garry Kasparov said Fischer would be remembered as “the pioneer, some would say the founder, of professional chess” and called his death “very sad news.”

According to media reports in Iceland, Fischer died at a hospital in the capital, Reykjavik. He moved to Iceland after being granted citizenship in 2005.

Fischer became almost as famous for his personality quirks and his renegade behavior as for his brilliance at chess.

He learned to play as a child in Brooklyn, New York, and quickly became a prodigy. He was only 15 when he reached the level of grand master in August, 1958.

— CNN

Analysis:

Bobby Fischer is one in a long list of examples that establish the truthfulness of the wise man’s words in Ecclesiastes 2:17, “Therefore I hated life because the work that was done under the sun was distressing to me, for all is vanity and grasping for the wind.”

The life that Fischer lived was sufficiently significant that his death was reported world wide. His success in playing the game of chess was prodigious and noteworthy, but he was a failure as a man.

Continue reading “In The News: Chess Eccentric Bobby Fischer Dies” →

Cain’s choice to sin, and then to compound his initial sin with others, caused him much anguish in life, and God’s condemnation.

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Israel learned a great deal about the obedience and faithfulness that God requires of His people. We can learn from their example.

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Hebrews 11:4 mentions Abel as one of the patriarchs, who through his good example, though he is dead, still speaks to us. His example of faith as well as that of others (Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses and Rahab), teach us the need for obedient faith.

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Jesus Christ is our example in obedience, sacrifice and love. We are to obey, live lives of sacrifice, and love one another as we emulate Him.

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Today is the day we are to show our priorities to be in order. God must be first in our lives today, because we do not have assurance of tomorrow.

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I may be a sinner, and unworthy of God’s love and mercy, but he still values me, and desires that I serve him acceptably, that I may attain an eternity in His presence.

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Guest Speaker: Keith Greer. There is an eternal principle that remains true in every age. Succinctly stated, God speaks, Man believes, Man obeys, God saves.

While the particulars of God’s message may change, the principle remains. This is certainly true with regard to God ordained worship.

(Note: This is a two part sermon. This evening sermon covers the last 7 slides of the presentation).

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .